Google removes “Apps” section from Chrome Web Store

Back in August 2016, Google announced to phase out support for Chrome apps on every platform except for Chrome OS. Today the company has shut down the apps section from Chrome Web Store. As per a report from Ars Technica, Chrome users can no longer access or install apps from Chrome Web Store.

Google has started sending out emails to Chrome app users that it is ending support and while the installed apps will still work, the functionality to install newer apps will be removed by the first quarter of 2018. People using Chrome to surf the web will be able to download extensions and themes.

Google‘s replacement for Chrome apps will come in the form of what it calls as PWA’s or Progressive Web Apps. It plans to ship the PWA functionality in mid-2018 and will allow users to install web apps to the desktop and launch them via icons and shortcuts.

While Chrome Apps have now disappeared from discovery, they can still be downloaded with a direct link. Chrome will not fully remove support for Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac or Linux until after Desktop PWA installability becomes available in 2018.